After achieving numerous milestones in
the program's history the past three seasons, Haverford has a combination
of experience and youth to face the challenge of continued success
within the Centennial Conference and region. The 2004-05 campaign
saw the Fords clain their first winning season (14-12) and most
conference wins (12) since an 11-2 mark in the old Middle Atlantic
Conference College Division South in 1965-66. Their back-to-back
postseason appearances are the Fords' first in a basketball program
dating back to the 1918-19 season.
The 2006-07 squad hopes to build upon
the experiences of recent years and recapture the magic of the 2004-05
team. The squad achieved a 13-6 record after January 1, including
nine consecutive home wins and eight straight conference wins, which
included a defeat of every team within the conference at least once.
Haverford also ranked first in the conference in assist-to-turnover
ratio, second in assists and first in free-throw percentage (77.1%),
the latter percentage third-best in NCAA Division III.
The upcoming season will have to replace
the backcourt of Jason Polykoff '06 and John Elefterakis '06, whose
talent and experience helped greatly with the team's competitive
play and in the development of the younger returning players. Elefterakis
leaves Haverford as a two time All-Conference player and the school's
all-time assist leader. Both Elefterakis and Polykoff were members
of the Centennial Conference academic honor roll.
This year's returning players include
seniors Ray Brown and Mike Fratangelo; junior Ray Panek; and sophomores
Brent Anderson, Ben McDowell, David Nowacki, Grag Rosnick, Alex
Schwada, and Matthew Stitt. All of the returners have gained valuable
experience throughout the past season and have continued to use
the resources available to them for their development as players
in the offseason.
This past October the team moved into
its new home, the Douglas B. Gardner '83 Integrated Athletic Center.
The 1,200-seat gymnasium consists of three full wood courts; a 7,200-square-foot,
state of the art fitness center, and new locker rooms and training
facilities.
The Fords will add three newcomers this
fall. Doug Edelman (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining), Michael Gabriel (Eagle,
Id./Northeast Christian Academy, Tx.), and Matthew Palmer (Seven
Fields, Pa./Sewickley Academy). All three bring work ethic and talent
to a strong nucleus with similar qualities and goals.
